Musée du Vin & Négoce

On 26th June 2008, The Bordeaux Historia Vini, a Bordelais wine culture association, opened the Musee du vin et du Négoce in the historic Chartrons area of Bordeaux.

The Wine & Trade Museum has been set up in the former dwelling of a wine merchant. It seems fitting that this museum is located in this district, as Chartrons was a hive of activity for the wine trade. Many workers lived and worked in this industry, ranging from those who prepared wine for shipment to those who made money from its sale.

In three partially subterranean cellars, the museum presents a collection of unique historical objects, testimonials of the past and present with numerous documents and information points explaining and retracing the trade of Bordeaux wine : the evolution of merchant negotiation, storehouses and exportation, from medieval times to the present day.

The Museum has recently undergone a beautiful refurbishment, which makes full use of the Bordeaux stone walls; it feels like you’re stepping back in time as you take the tour around this atmospheric house, learning as you go.

Working with local partners and using up-to-date technologies, the museum creates an intimate experience. Here you can learn about the cultural treasure of the region, and see how it has shaped the regions past, present and future.

LOCAL TIP : At the end of the self-guided tour, you get a wine tasting.

There’s a specially-created wine tasting area, where you can learn about many crucial aspects, such as: the difference between merlot and cabernet sauvignon; the 1855 classification system, which has implications even today; and what makes Bordeaux wine so special!